Hydrology and water quality of ancient acequia irrigation systems and their contributing forested watersheds
Project Location: New Mexico State University with field sites in Northern New Mexico
Project Leader: Dr. Sam Fernald
Project Description: This activity is part of a project to study the effects of irrigation system management and forest treatment on runoff and water quality. Acequia irrigation systems used in New Mexico are living history, linking rivers to their floodplains. The irrigation canals provide water for crops and many other benefits including riparian habitat, water quality improvement, and groundwater recharge. Participants in the project will measure hydrologic budget components of surface water flow, soil moisture, and groundwater. Also measured will be riparian habitat and water quality.
Many traditional acequia irrigation systems receive their water directly from forested watersheds. Land use effects on forest runoff will be studied through forest land use evaluation and rainfall simulation. The land use evaluations will involve ground level verification of watershed scale mapping. The rainfall simulations will apply precipitation to forested plots under different land use treatments. Runoff and sediment measurements will give important information about forest hydrology. Overall, this project will be valuable for those interested in natural resources, traditional water management, and landscape linkages between nature and community.
Desired Students: Students majoring in engineering, agriculture, range science, environmental science, geography, meteorology, hydrology, geology or Earth sciences, and biology are desired for this project. Students must be willing to work outdoors and live in the field for extended periods of time.